Egypt Leverages South Korean Expertise to Modernise Customs and Boost Trade

Cairo, Oct 25 (Reuters) – Egypt’s customs authority is adopting international best practices to speed up shipment clearance and strengthen the economy, officials said on Wednesday.

Ahmed Amoui, head of the Egyptian Customs Authority, said the government is expanding the use of advanced technology and the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system to improve risk assessment and facilitate trade flows. He added that the reforms target faster clearance, better governance and greater competitiveness.

Capacity‑building programme in Seoul

A delegation from the authority took part in a customs capacity‑building programme organised by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Korea Customs Service (KCS) in Seoul. The three‑day course, titled “Cross‑Border E‑Commerce Management and Customs Valuation,” was led by Amal El‑Gabry, director general of development initiatives and head of the e‑commerce unit, and included Sally Gabr, Nora Labib, Lamia Awadeen and Ahmed El‑Sakka.

El‑Gabry said the participants examined South Korea’s handling of growing e‑commerce volumes, especially postal and express cargo. They studied how information‑exchange systems are linked with risk analysis to focus inspections on high‑risk shipments while reducing checks on legitimate trade.

Key recommendations

The Egyptian team reported several recommendations: improve Egypt’s ACI system for e‑commerce shipments; consider a personal customs identification code via the Nafeza platform; create centralised connectivity for X‑ray images; enhance specialised risk analysis for postal and express cargo; and refine customs classification procedures and advance rulings.

Delegates also visited the Incheon Logistics Centre, observing the integration of shipment data with X‑ray imaging and technical analysis that supports inspection decisions. They noted the role of specialised technical committees and advance rulings in standardising classification and valuation, which reduces disputes and increases procedural transparency for traders.